Newcastle doctor examining ramifications of polio increase

Professor David Durrheim will head to Manila as the region considers the ramifications of a polio comeback oversea

ABC

A Newcastle public health professor says Australia is in a good position to thwart possible importations of the deadly polio disease as it resurges overseas.

The number of polio infections has dropped dramatically worldwide since an eradication program began in the late eighties.

But recent months have seen the disease spread from the endemic countries of Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan to the Horn of Africa and Syria.

Chair of the National Polio Certification Committee Professor David Durrheim says vaccination's vital and it is important frontline clinicians consider polio if a patient presents with a floppy paralysis of the limb.

He says there is surveillance programs across Australia.

"Anybody returning from any of those areas known to be endemic for polio, could potentially have been exposed," he said.

"The Australian Government is certainly taking steps, last year there was a comprehensive review of Australia's polio surveillance to make sure that we would detect early any importation of polio and be able to adequately respond."

Professor Durrheim will head to Manila next week as the region considers the ramifications of a polio comeback overseas.

Professor Durrheim says Australia has a strong surveillance system and vaccination record but clinicians should still be alert for people travelling from those countries.

"All countries in the region will actually be gathering in Manila to consider what the implications for the Western Pacific region are," he said.

"Also to carefully review the surveillance strategies in place in each one of the countries in the Western Pacific and also to talk about issues like what is the current status of vaccine coverage and how can we ensure that that is maintained and enhanced where it needs to be."